Lachlan Coote hasn't given up on playing again this year despite suffering the fourth serious injury of a comparatively short career. Coote was a casualty of the Nines, ruled out for six months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. ''I definitely want to get back and play with this bunch of boys,'' he said. ''It will be a goal for myself to try and get back.'' Coote wasn't taking out his frustration on the new Nines concept. ''We've still got another trial next week and it could have happened then. Footy is a cruel game.'' Zac Santo is the early favourite to replace Coote at fullback.

''They were terrible, the refs in our game,'' Brad Fittler told an NRL video crew after his comeback on Saturday (the first game, not the one with the intercept). Then there was a grin. The match officials were walking behind Fittler in the tunnel's 'Mixed Zone'. ''Can I bag refs? Can I get fined? I'm retiring at the end of the day!'' Fittler didn't play on Sunday due to a hamstring injury. Andrew Johns' comeback in the media match was less successful; he hooked himself for a horrible pass at one stage and the NZ team beat the Aussies 3-2.

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3. SUSPENSION ENTERS DANGEROUS GROUND

The decision to suspend Melbourne's Richie Kennar for one Nines match in 2015 for his grade four careless high tackle against St George Illawarra is, on the surface, eminently sensible. The game in which he committed an offence was not rugby league as we know it and if he had committed a serious offence, it would have been referred to the judiciary and his ban would have included 13-a-side games. But the precedent is dangerous. The lobby for suspensions meted out in trials and Origin games to only cover those arenas will be emboldened by this decision. And what if his hit had impacted upon the rest of the event? Would we have been as comfortable seeing him play for the Storm next weekend?

Media types were happy enough Warriors owner Eric Watson visited the Eden Park media box and dispensed some quotes. Watson also said the Nines should stay in Auckland forever and reckoned England signing Sam Tomkins was valuable because he would remedy a communication problem at the Warriors. But when the media opp was over, Watson remarked the view from the press box was so good it should be sold as a corporate suite and the hacks kicked out. Journos might be left wishing he had not paid them a visit.

5. PAINFUL TRUTH

Signed with England: Sam Tonkins of the Warriors (right). Photo: Getty Images

Injuries led to the demise of the World Sevens in 2004, along with poor crowds and declining TV interest. With the return of truncated rugby league to the NRL, casualties also returned. Lachlan Coote, Todd Carney, Curtis Sironen, Jarrod Mullen, David Stagg, David Williams, Ben Barba and others all return home sicker and sorrier. So why is no one calling for the Nines to be canned? Because clubs are so well compensated? Because organisers have spent money courting the media? Because, as Eric Watson says, clubs no longer dislike each other? Or is it because the league media is less negative than a decade ago?

6. LUCKY LOCALS

Brisbane endured their worst season last year and North Queensland were dudded by a refereeing error. So while fans at Eden Park were disappointed at the Warriors missing the final, it was still a feel-good story. Yet things could have been different. South Sydney's Dylan Walker grounded the ball just outside an upright in the quarter-final against the home side. Had he put the ball down inside the woodwork, meaning a five-point try, the game would have been tied. The scoring system confused everyone.

10 comments so far

NRL nines will turn into 7even's rugby, and T20 cricket, specialist players on a nines circuit. And maybe a summer nines tournament, where the NRL clubs use nine's specialists.

Commenter

Tony

Location

Sydney

Date and time

February 17, 2014, 12:27AM

Loved the 9s. Great way to start the season, I hope it sticks around. Of course there are a few things to sort out but considering this was the first one it all went surprisingly well.

It could be argued that the injuries those players picked up could have occurred in a trial match. At least in the 9s they were playing for a title and prize money.

Commenter

Seano

Date and time

February 17, 2014, 7:34AM

It was great weekend of Rugby League and showcased our great game. Critics of this day should be ignored by the hierarchy and if the fans want it, it should stay. Sure there will be a need for some fine tuning but the product itself is top class entertainment.

Commenter

Bluesbreaker

Location

Curl Curl

Date and time

February 17, 2014, 10:08AM

Were the nines good??I wouldn't know, it wasn't on free to air tv.

Commenter

jbg1995

Location

Sydeny

Date and time

February 17, 2014, 12:31PM

Yes but it was on free HD streaming courtesy of the NRL.

Commenter

Titanic

Location

Burleigh Heads

Date and time

February 17, 2014, 5:06PM

@Yes but it was on free HD streaming courtesy of the NRL.

That's like saying mobile phones calls are free...

Commenter

Percy Phelps

Date and time

February 17, 2014, 11:06PM

Very much agree with the 'suspension' issue. I'd have thought it just a bit more serious because of the otherwise great spirit in which the tournament was played. I know it's not the same but I refereed in games where players had nothing to lose and acted accordingly. A risky precedent.

Commenter

Hohum

Date and time

February 17, 2014, 12:41PM

"Or is it because the league media is less negative than a decade ago??"

yeah, right. Tuning into the NRL FTA broadcast partner's news on Saturday to hear the update on the 9's, I instead was first was greeted by a story about a "league star" involved in a scuffle in Manly. Of course it was a over-reaction with said player having never played a first grade game and probably never will......

Commenter

Jojo

Location

Penrith

Date and time

February 17, 2014, 3:22PM

Lachlan Coote is one very injury prone player.The Panthers knew this when they let him go....It hasn't taken Nth Qld long to come to the same conclusion..